Testing Cardiovascular Endurance

Cardiovascular endurance, or aerobic fitness, stamina, is the ability
to exercise continuously for extended periods without tiring,
and is an important component of many sporting activities.

A person's aerobic fitness level is dependent upon the amount
of oxygen which can be transported by the body to the working
muscles, and the efficiency of the muscles to use that oxygen.

The criterion test for aerobic fitness is the maximal oxygen uptake
(VO2max) test. As this test can be expensive and time
consuming, many other simpler tests have been designed to predict
a VO2 max score.

The many tests for aerobic fitness
can be divided into either maximal or submaximal tests. Stressing the body by exercising to exhaustion, as in the maximal
tests, is sometimes not appropriate, particularly for older, obese, young or the unfit. In these cases, the submaximal
tests which are less demanding (and also usually less accurate)
can be used.